Death or Handing Over

Today we are reflecting on Deuteronomy 34 coming towards the end our series looking at the foundations of our faith in the Old Testament.

The Promised Land is just there over the river and Moses stands on Mt Nebo and looks at it. He has led the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, spent forty years leading them in the desert, given them God’s law and forged them into a new nation. But Moses cannot go on forever. The era of Moses leadership is over and the conquest of the Promised Land is about to begin. That’s a work for younger men.

From the beginning of Deuteronomy Moses has been talking about this. He has been reminding them of what they have experienced and what they have learned. He is telling them of their coming disobedience and unfaithfulness and warning them to remember the covenant they have been given. He is preparing Joshua for his leadership and encouraging him to lead as a man of God. He knows the challenges of leadership.

This whole book looks like a handover document. The decision has been made and old leadership must give way to new. Moses cannot stay with them while Joshua leads, because they will always look back to Moses for direction. God has told Moses that he won’t be going into the promised land even though Moses has asked for the permission to go and have a look. Moses only look is from Mt Nebo.

This story sounds very like retirement from ministry to me, or maybe just moving to a new ministry. Last weekend we were in South Australia at an 80th birthday party in Victor Harbor and a 100th birthday party in Brighton. I ministered in both these places and along with the guests of honour we met many wonderful old friends. I had trouble remembering many of their names. Very embarrassing!

While I was interested in stories about how those churches have changed and developed, I was listening to their stories as an outsider. I know the difficulty of moving on. Its not just that I miss people I have loved and have loved me, but there is always that sense that there are possibilities and hopes that are not yet fulfilled. My pray has often been, “Can I stay just a bit longer to see that through, or to be there until that situation is resolved or complete?” In the end the answer has been crystal clear, “Its time to hand over.” Moses has reached that moment and while he waxes eloquent about the future and what needs to be done, he must let go and let others get on with it.

This principle applies to full time ministers, but it also applies to generational ministry in the church. We all need to alert to the right moment to let go, because looking back to to the good old day or even the bad old days is not going to get us anywhere. God is inspiring new ministries and new leaders who will take the church on a new journey. I believe that. God will always inspire people of faith to be church, to love one another and carry on the mission of Jesus. Until we die that’s us.

Where there is life there is faith, where there is faith there are gifts, where there are gifts there is ministry. If you are alive God has a ministry for you, except maybe when you have turned 120. In Moses case his retirement is directly associated with his death and after that there is a lot of rest.